Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-04-07
crimes, and q big reward had been OF

lily CIV tQcllCG.
The alik; business worried thu
old alcade not a little. The
three witnesses who swore to meet
ing Francisco on the afternoon before
were reputable men. On the other
hand ] was a stranger and an Ameri
can. Several times during the day
was recalled to the stand and examin
ed and cross-examined. The utmost
courtesy characterized the examine
ton, but it had a latitude that would
not have been permitted i'll an Ameri
can court. Frequently a spectator
would interrupt with q question, o
make a suggestion to the alcade. Ono,
Francisco remarked that he was tired
and would take it as a favor if thu
court would hurry upl
Towards theclose of the day | saw
man on the outskirts ofthe SPECTATOR
whose face and manner attracted my
attention. He was the very image o
Francisco, the prisoner.
Ichanged my position so as to ge'
a better view. The resemblance wa
wonderfully striking. The man wa
just Francisco's age, height, size ant
complexion. His sombrero shaded
ms iAEllL lCIiipiG anu DICNCilICu II
from seeing whether it bore the pecul
lar scar which disfigured the robber
His costume was the same as Fran
cisco's, but, as nearly everybody wor,
homespun of the same color and pat
tern, this didn't excite my surprise.
"lf he has the scar" nuttered
"he could pass anywhere for Francis
CO. 1t would be impossible to tel
them apart"
Naturally | began to understand h,
alibi. The men who swore that they
saw the highwayman twenty mile.
away from the scene of his crime a
the very moment ne vas tying ml
hands, might honestly be mistaken
They had seen this mysterious stran
ger. But they had sworn to the scar
Could it be possible that the stran
gers face bore such q mark
| determined to edge my way to hin
in the crowd and accidentally knocl
off his sombrero IN order to look TO
the fiery crescent.
When ! reached that side of tn
building the man was gone. l mad
every effort to find him, but finally
gave it up. He had either left thl
/ IoOil oE ltdu SIiliCt illS DOStLiOIt hCtp
ing other persons between us so as tt
screen him from my view.
As it was growing dark, four talloy
candles were lighted, out the gloom,
stone walls made the room look al
most as dark as ever.
! was wondering what would be tn
outcome of the case, when the light
were suddenly blown out.
keep in your piaces!' shouted al
alguazil. "Order in the palace of jus
ticeii"
The candles were re-lighted, and theI
was beheld such a scene ds has rarell
ever been beheld in a court room o
anywhere else.
In front OF the alcalde's bench stoot
two scar-faced men as much alike a
two brown peas
"Merciful saints" calculated an al
quail. "Do | see double, or are Their
two Franciscos?"
SIT is the work OF the devil" sue
gested a pious old man, as he crosse
himself,
My friend, the old alcalde, put OF
his spectacles, and looked sharply a
the two men.
EIdIlCiSCO. ue Cdllti.
Each of the two men gave a jerk On
his head, and answered to the name.
"Let the American n take the
stand" ordered the alcalde.
In response to the questions put to
me / admitted that ] could not poiut
out the real Francisco.
Three witnesses called to establish
the alibi were recalled. They shared
my bewilderment, andcould throw no
light upon the case.
The alcalde scratched his head.
Then he touched one of the doubles
with his cane.
"You, now" he said, "what is your
manner"
Francisco" was the reply.
"Your residence and occupation?"
81 have none. j am travelling
about"
The alcalde turned to the other man.
"What is your manner"
Francisco"
'Your residence and occupation?"
81 have none. l am travelling
about"
The same answer, delivered in the
very voice and manner of the first
| double.
Seeing the alcalde's embarrassment,
/ went to him and suggested that be
imprison both men until the matter
could be looked into.
IL cannot do it." he said. "One is
innocent. II | imprison him | shall
lose my place. Besides, the twelve
hours will soon expire, and without
satisfactory evidence / must turn
both loose"
limited that it was all n put-up
job. that Francisco probably had a
twin brother, who had arranged it to
have the lights blown out, and had
then in the darkness made his way to
the prisoners side, thus confusing
matters with the intention of evading
Justice.
st matters not" said the alcalde.
1.-TWO men cannot be arrested, tried
and imprisoned on a warrant against
one, nor a a warrant be issued
against two, when it is known that
only one is guilty. No, senior, it is a
hardship, doubtless, but it is better to
disappoint justice than to do inius-
tice."
Then raising his head he said:
THE prisoners are discharged"
Silently the crowd divided, leaving
a broad pathway.
Down the aisle walked the Francis
eos Each worethe same scornful smile.
Each gave the same wicked look out
OF his black eyes. Each made the
same low bow to the court, and when
they passed me | noticed that the red
scar on each mans temple were both
of the same size and of the same fam
ing color.
Out OF the arched doorway of the
palace of justice, out into the dark
ness, out into the region of the mys-
terious and unknown, passed the two
~Eranciscos, with not a man to follow
or say them nay.
The next morning my expected let
ter came. / was informed to lose no
time in returning to the States, and /
left San Pablo at once. For all /
know, the two Franciscos are still hav-
ing a royal time down in Yucatan.-
Wallace p. Reed in Atlanta Constitu-
ton.
Interesting Bible Facts.
In the bible the word Lord is found
1 OK timaS tho word Iaboyob q SEk